Although, Mr Karunakaran had returned to the Congress fold eight months ago after a four-year hiatus during which he had floated his own political outfit, his supporters were not given any party posts or positions in the party.

Mr Karunakaran was inducted into the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest policy making body of the party, within a few months after his return to the party.

The induction of first batch of Mr Karunakaran's supporters comes a month after the veteran personally met Ms Gandhi and complained about the delay in giving due posts and positions to his men, who returned to the party along with him.